Coffin



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC G. SHULER, OE AMSTERDAM, NEIV YORK.

COFFIN.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,401, dated March 29, 1859.

To all whom it may conce-rn.'

Be it known that I, Isaac C. SHULER, of Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of New York, have invented an Improved Method of Constructing Metallic Coliins; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which makes a part of this specification, and which represents a vertical longitudinal section of my improved coiiin entire.

My improvement consists in the construction of a coffin of cast and sheet metal in such a manner that the top and sides may be soldered together and the joint concealed (after receiving the corpse) in a more convenient manner than heretofore, forming with less trouble and expense a handsome light, durable, and air tight receptacle for the dead. In order that others may be enabled to construct such a coffin I here append my process of manufacturing the same.

I lconstruct a cofiin shaped box of sheet metal with outlines varying according to dierent tastes. The bottoms of the sides and ends being pressed or rolled outward, forni aplain or O. G. projection around the base leaving a counter part recess on the inside. Into this recess, before soldering on the bottom I insert and x a cast metal frame (D) for the purpose of stiffening the base. I then apply the bottom sheet (Q) and solder it to the sides and ends, after closing over it a reasonable portion of the lower edges of the same. Then turning over the box as thus constructed I the ribs (X) to the frame (D) and the sides and ends with rivets or solder. I then turn a narrow flange inward upon the top edges of the sides and ends, which flange rests upon and covers the top of the ribs (X). The advantage of this arrangement will be apparent to any mechanic. The flange being extended inward, and fastened to the ribs which are also fastened to the frame (D) at the base, the whole structure has an extended purchase upon itself, and has great strength in proportion to its weight-which strength will be found necessary to prevent racking when the coffin contains a heavy body and is lifted by the handles. I then set upon this fiange the cast metal rim (E), this rim (E) extending both inward and outward from the line of the sides and ends contains a groove in its upper surface in the inward extension of the same and reaches downward a short distance on the outside surface of the sides and ends being soldered firmly in this position to the sides and ends. On the outside and to the inner edges of the liange on the inside it forms a graceful and stiffening molding with a .prominent bead (I) around its outer and upper edge.

The top or cover of the coffin is formed mainly of two pieces of sheet metal. The first is a pressed ring piece (G), of the form of a bottomless inverted dish. a plain sheet (K) with a glass face piece fastened to and covering the first, its edges extending horizontally beyond it as seen in the drawing. The dishing piece (G) has an inverted bead or groove in its surface at the outer edge, which when it is placed on the coffin its into the groove in the rim (E), the edge of the piece (G) touching the rim (E) entirely around and ready to be soldered thereto. Now setting this cover in its place as described, I slide over the joints, thus formed from either of the tapering extremities of the cofn-the frame (H), which is cast in two pieces for that purpose, and which snaps together with a proper catch at the swell or widest portion of the cofHn. The upper edges of the frame slide under the extension of the top piece (K), while the lower outside portion of the frame laps around the bead (I) before mentioned on the upper edge of the frame (E), thus holding the cover firmly in its place before soldering in the corpse, and neatly concealing the joint and fresh solder after the body shall have been sealed in the coffin. The coffin thus constructed may then be painted in imitation of rose wood or mahogany.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The manner of forming a recess in the sheet metal all around the base inside of a metal coffin, also the arrangement of placing an iron frame or its equivalent into the recess described fastening it firmly to the sheet metal all around the body of the coffin, for the purpose of stiffening the lower edges of the same. j

2. I do not claim the ribs (X) separately as I do not consider them patentable, but the ribs being peculiarly arranged by being placed under the flange which supports the rim (E) and fastened to the frame (D), in the recess at the bottom. I claim this pecul- The second is iar arrangement for the purpose 0f stilfening the sides and ends so as to sustain a heavy weight of earth, also for the purpose of preventing the sides from bilging out when the handles are placed about an equal distance between the upper and lower edges of a sheet metal coflin, substantially as Set forth.

3. The arrangement of pressing a rolling around the outer edge of the cover of a sheet metal coffin an inverted bead which forms a tongue on the bottom side of the cover so arranged as to ll the groove in the upper surface of the rim for the purpose of soldering or cementing the joints, as described and set forth.

4. rIhe arrangement of placing a galvanized iron rim or its equivalent on the outside and over the upper edge of the walls of l former patent an iron frame as a cover over I the soldered joints, on the top of a sheet metal coflin. I -therefore disclaim it as an entire frame, but I claim the bisection of the frame and its reconnection, by means of spring catches at the widest part or break of the coffin, substantially as set forth.

ISAAC C. SHULER.

Witnesses:

B. T. BLOOD, H. N. HADLEY. 

